Australia it is then....!6th November 2008

[(RIP) Proff]

Irfan view.
resize to 640 x 800 iirc and you'll be ok [it's a free prog from http://www.irfanview.com/ }

 

[Big Lee]

What program do i need to use to resize my photos....all are hi-resolution shots and fail to upload i assume because of their file size....yes i admit im am computer crap.

Here you are Andy, this link should help you out http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32292

 

[BaldBaBoon]

Be aware its a bit windy out here...and these buggers sneak up on you ( about 3 kilometers across the base )

 

[BaldBaBoon]

one for the truck drivers amongst us.

 

[BaldBaBoon]

Endless roads without a soul in sight...about 400km of this on the long stretch.

 

[BaldBaBoon]

Middle of nowhere and a friendly greeting

 

[BaldBaBoon]

Camp for the night...out of shot is the anti-snake/spider shovel close at hand

 

[BaldBaBoon]

Ayers rock

After the torrential rain they have been having...get to see the waterfalls which is quite rare.

 

[BaldBaBoon]

This is as about as artistic as i get.

 

[BaldBaBoon]

Constant heavy rains make route planning a problem.

 

[BaldBaBoon]

And thanks to all the help from you all about posting photos...i will get better at this.

 

[wilbjr21]

Well done Andy .............. you're still looking very adventurous. Best of luck and enjoy yourself.

Bob

 

[BaldBaBoon]

Got my shoulder checked by the local Hospital as it is still causing me irritation, Doctor said that it appears to have been either a partial or full dis-location...reckons i may have dislocated it on the first impact,then knocked it back into the socket when i hit the ground a second time.

So I am resting up in Alice Springs until at least the New Year, dragging myself down to the local gym to get some fitness back...( circut training with about 30 Aussie girls,damm my luck )

Its a nice place with good pubs and shedloads of backpackers out doing the party thing all the time...good place to recuperate.

Have a good Christmas and a happy New Year.

 

[Aidan1150]

No, I'm not jealous you lucky barsteward.






Alright then, I am. You lucky barsteward.

 

[BaldBaBoon]

Just to keep you informed.

I will be setting off for Perth end of this week, going south to Port Augusta then heading west along the ocean road.....distance estimated at about 4000km.

Got Cyclone warnings to the north so that decided the " visit Darwin later on " decision and the shortest route to Perth straight through the desert is a definate no-go......you have to know your limits in a place like this and going into a 45 degree desert with 300km or more fuel stops ( DR650 main tank and fuel can is 400km range at best )is eating too far into my safety margin.If i was in a group or had a 4wd with me i would try it, but not on my own.

After a few beers last night i managed to slip or trip getting out of the pool and landed in a heap on the floor....smacked my bad shoulder and it went completely limp and numb for an hour.....woke up this morning and my arm feels great...got full movement out of it and the weakness in certain muscles seems to have improved by a fair bit.

Strange old World.....Andy.

 

[Roge]

If you are any where near the Barossa Valley give me a shout

 

[RobBD]

Let me know when you get to Perth and we will catch up. Sounds like you are having fun and you were lucky to see the Rock when it was raining-that doesn't happen very often!

 

[BaldBaBoon]

Thanks for the invites to both Roger and Rob...I will contact you for certain as soon as im in your neck of the country.

Quick update and a promise that i will post some photos this week...including one for the ladies.

Travel plan has changed.....Some nice German girls ( Seem to be attracting them, in a nice turn around of being totally incapable of attracting a nice English girl ) were inquiring about my trip and would I want to travel to Darwin with them. I scoot along behind and they take all my gear and extra fuel in their 4x4.

Couldnt really turn that down....so off to Darwin I went, got to about the 900km mark of the 1500km trip when " Bang "....received my 4th puncture of the day.Used up all my spare inner tubes and the latest hole was about 20mm in diameter.....BUGGER.

Told the girls to carry on with all the un-needed equipment and look after it for me, I will stay behind and try to repair or recover the bike as best i could.

 

[BaldBaBoon]

After and hour of sitting under a the only tree at the Roadhouse i was stranded at,I heard this massive engine approaching from the south and the distinctive bass roar of a laden Land Train slowing down for a stop.Truck pulls in and I ask the driver if he could carry the bike to Darwin for me.

Henry ( the driver ) says no problem, he will even do it for free if I dont mind working as his co-pilot and help unload/load the truck on its stops on the way.So with some help from some passing road workers, we load the bike on the back of the 52 meter train and proceed.

Spent a day and a half helping out and having a good laugh with Henry who enjoyed telling me just about everything who knew about the areas to party/stay/avoid and what-not about Australia....we even had a look at a the Hot springs at Katherine...problem was with the huge rainfall they had the springs were more a lake, and we only noticed the warning signs dated that day ( nightime when we were there ) that the area was closed due to a 6 meter crocodile sighting....as we were walking back to the truck.

Got to Darwin and got the bike sorted by the local Honda dealer ( Prestige honda ) who charged virtually nothing to repair the bike.

RAIN.....blessed rain, it rains a lot here and its a Godsend in the humidity and heat.

Photos soon

Andy

 

[Dahoum]

Great to hear the adventure continues Andy.

Thanks for the updates - keep em coming, esp the pics of the German birds